Colin Montgomerie's diary is full of little assignments, one of which involves bringing the Ryder Cup trophy to a Robbie Williams concert at Hampden Park tomorrow evening.

Given that the Scot has an important part to play yet in the formation of the European team for this month's match at The K Club, depending on where he finishes in the BMW International Open, there are a number of players who will hope there are no hitches in his travel plans in making that flying visit to Glasgow, before returning for the final round of the tournament.

Now very much the elder statesman of the European team - "Actually, I am the oldest player on either team" he pointed out - Montgomerie, who shot an opening two-under-par 70 yesterday, only needs to finish tied-47th or better to pass Jose Maria Olazabal on the world points list, so putting the Spaniard down to the vulnerable 10th place on the European points list.

Montgomerie didn't realise he possibly held the fate of other players in his hands until made aware of it on his arrival at course earlier this week.

"I was surprised, I must say (when originally informed of Olazabal's absence). After a full year of trying to qualify, and then to say you are tired, I was very surprised. There is a long winter ahead to be tired. Put it this way, if I was in his position I'd be here. It is up to the individual. If he feels that he is safe, he feels he is safe. But he is not safe so . . . you know."

Having played alongside Olazabal on four of the seven times he has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup, Montgomerie observed: "I think the team is weaker without him, definitely. We need him there and it is a shame if (he drops out of an automatic place). I suppose it is Ian (Woosnam) I feel sorry for in that way. He'd want Olazabal to be in the team, so that he can have a free pick."

For a time yesterday, it appeared that Paul Broadhurst, who requires a top-three finish to overtake Olazabal, should the Spaniard drop to the secondary European points list, was complicating matters for Woosnam.

However, Broadhurst went from holding a top-10 position during his first round to the cut-line after a run of bogey-par-double bogey from the 14th on his way to a 72.

Of those potential picks, which will be announced by Woosnam on Sunday evening, Montgomerie - who has "chatted" with his captain on the matter - was adamant that experience is vital.

"It is very difficult to pick a rookie. So therefore you go with experience. It is always the case, and I am sure Ian Woosnam will make the right decision come Sunday."

Two years ago, Montgomerie was in the position of looking for a wild card selection from Bernhard Langer, and duly delivered the goods in Europe's record winning margin victory in Oakland Hills.

"The big thing for me was that Bernhard Langer said to me that the players wanted me . . . because the players backed him in selecting me, and I was way down the list, that gave me an easier go at it."

Indeed, Montgomerie and partner Padraig Harrington threw down a marker from the off, defeating Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the opening fourball of the match. The European pair had observed that Woods and Mickelson were standing on opposite sides of the first tee, a sign they weren't totally unified. "There was nothing to fear for Padraig and I. It was a free run we had. We couldn't really lose, could we? It was half expected for us to lose, so we went out and won."

But Montgomerie expects a different, united front from the US team this time, as typified by the commitment to make a two-day trip to The K Club earlier this week.

"This is a far more unified team and Tom Lehman has done everything, everything right so far. Everything right. He has spoken well and he has done everything that a captain should do.

"And this will be a far, far more unified American team than we have ever seen before. We have a job on our hands."